Buy a house worth worshipping like one of these ultra-ambitious and clever church conversions February 24, 2017 British buyers in particular want to tick three boxes when they go house-hunting; location, space and character. Church conversions offer all three. They’re often in the centre of town, where they would have been convenient for parishioners; have high ceilings and a generous footprint; and are often packed with historical details and period features. Here [...]
How to find quiet sanctuary in the buzzy, bohemian city of Prague February 10, 2017 Widely regarded as one of Europe’s prettiest capitals – and one of the only European cities that remained largely undamaged during the Second World War – Prague is like an ornate display cabinet of architectural styles throughout the ages. From the 14th century Gothic wonder that is Charles Bridge to the graffiti-strewn John Lennon Wall, [...]
British wine brand Chapel Down is about to launch into its toughest market yet: France January 24, 2017 British sparkling wine will be served in some of Paris' top restaurants under a deal uncorked by Chapel Down. The English producer has partnered with French luxury wine distributor Perles Du Monde for its fizz to be made available in restaurants, bars and hotels across the Channel. The attempt to break into the world's most [...]
What Brexit? Full steam ahead for the UK’s £605m superyacht industry January 9, 2017 The UK's superyacht industry is posting revenues "not seen since the financial crash", according to new figures. While sharp ripples of uncertainty were caused in the wake of the Brexit vote, business confidence soon rebounded. According to a report by British Marine unveiled at the London Boat Show, the UK's leisure marine industry grew for [...]
Wine wars: Chapel Down beats Champagne Bollinger to become new official Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race partner January 3, 2017 Corks will be popping at Chapel Down today, after the crowdfunding English winemakers signed a four-year agreement to become an official partner to the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. Chapel Down has usurped rival Champagne Bollinger to become the new wine partner of the annual race. This means that, for the first time, it will be bottles [...]
Editor’s notes: Calm down, the banks are not about to run for the European hills December 9, 2016 The government has agreed to set out its Brexit plans to parliament. While this will fall short of outlining a full negotiation strategy, it has been welcomed by politicians and business groups as a necessary step towards providing some clarity. However, there appears to still be confusion in some quarters over the fate of the City, [...]
Chapel Down toasts to future success with its best harvest and highest quality fruit yet November 23, 2016 English winemaker Chapel Down toasted prolonged profits today as it announced its most successful harvest yet. The Kent-based winery said although yields were down from expectations, it was still the company's third largest harvest, producing the highest ever quality grapes. Frazer Thompson, chief executive, said he is excited about the potential for higher-quality wines created by the harvest, which he [...]
What better excuse could you have for a G&T or six than International Gin & Tonic Day? Here’s where to drink up October 18, 2016 The Portobello Star 171 Portobello Road, W11 portobellostarbar.co.uk Journey to The Ginstitute, London’s second smallest museum sitting atop a 270-year-old pub on Portobello Road. Open since 2011, it’s also the headquarters of Portobello Road Gin, where you can learn all about the juniper drink’s rich history in London. There’s a chance to sample a tipple [...]
Drink up quick: Sterling drop is a “grave” concern for the wine industry which relies almost solely on imports October 7, 2016 Today's crash in the value of sterling may have left many of us wanting to drown our sorrows. But if you're a wine fan, you might want to drink up quick and make sure you stockpile too while you're at it. While Britain might have been dubbed the "beating heart" of the global wine trade, [...]
Zut alors: World’s oldest wine club The Wine Society provokes backlash from cancelling “booze cruises” as it closes down French showroom October 6, 2016 The Wine Society has been caught in a storm of backlash after closing its showroom in France without proper consultation with members, who will now not be able to go on cross-Channel "booze cruises". Members of the world's oldest wine club were left fuming after the society announced earlier this year that it would be [...]